A brief exposition on the XII. smal prophets: the first volume containing an exposition on the prophecies of Hosea, Joel, & Amos. By George Hutcheson, minister at Edenburgh.

Vers. 14. Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb, and dry breasts.

The second amplification of this sentence, is held out in the

Prophets intercession, who fore seeing this misery, would rather wish that the children came never to maturity in the womb, or that they died from their cradles for lack of suck, then that they should live to be cut off in ripe age. Whence learn, 1. It is the lawfull and necessary duty of Ministers, and other godly men, to commiserate and condole the miseries of a visible Church, and to pray for them, though they be most wicked and going to ruine: For, so much doeth the Prophets practice teach. 2. It may put god∣ly men to a great stand and perplexity, what to pray for in out∣ward things, when they consider a peoples sin, and the certain∣ty of judgements, that justice calls for stroakes, and that yet these are sad and will undo them; and when they consider that in times of calamity, there is no lot we can pitch on, but it may be made sadder then what appears more formidable: So much doth the Prophets perplexity in his suite teach, Give them, O LORD, what wilt thou give? as wishing the peoples deliver∣ance on the one hand, and yet pondering their sin and justice pursuing on the other, which he could not but subscribe unto; and as fore-seeing that however their childrens growing up seem∣ed a greater mercy at present, yet afterward it would produce a sharper trial. 3. The fruitlesseness or barrennesse of the womb, and breasts, is from God, and he is to be seen and acknowledged in it, whatever second causes there be; For, the Prophet suppo∣seth here it is Gods gift, give them a miscarrying womb, &c. 4. A Nations sin may draw on such sad times, that in many respects it were a mercy, if parents had no children borne, or they died in their infancy, then that their children should live to see these times, and be exposed as a prey to slaughters, tyran∣nie, false Religion, Apostasy, &c. So soon can God imbitter the cup of sinners mercies, and make the sad private afflictions of some, in losse of children, be seen to be a mercy afterward; For, so much doth this wish import, that considering the slaughter that was to be of their children, v. 13. and other miseries they were to endure, it were a mercy to give them a miscarrying womb, and dry breasts. See Luk. 21.23.